[A decade, but she remembered the way to Wayne Manor like the back of her hand. It was the morning after her
run in with Eddie, and she was still riding a little on her high. After patrolling a bit more that night, she had headed to sleep in her clinic office. Not the most comfortable, but she had done it before, and she wasn't ready to go back to the Manor until the morning. Which she did. Sitting in her clunky gray sedan from years, she drove from the East End, where her main clinic was, to the outskirts of Gotham where the mansion rose over the rest. On her passenger seat sat a box of an
assortment of donuts from one of those artisanal bakeries she equally loved and hated. Two cups of coffee, too, in case Bruce was up and about.
She hadn't seen anyone aside from Eddie since her return, and though she wasn't
worried, she couldn't ignore a little bit of apprehension. A tiny sharp bubbling in her throat. Sure, she remembered dedication and love, but that could just be the foggy, rose-colored glasses that formed after years of being away. But Bruce was safe, right? He was the one she felt like she could always turn to. A father better than
any she ever had, even if they were now closer in age than ever. That didn't matter. He would always be her father figure.
Coming in through the back entrance, Stephanie beelined to the kitchen, doughnut box tucked under one arm as she carried each cup of coffee in her two hands. The trot of Flounder's yellow fur greeted her immediately, and Bandit mewled from the entrance hall. She smiled, dropping the box and placing one of the coffees on the counter before crouching down to press a kiss to Flounder's fur and rub behind her ears.] Hey, good boy. How are you? I
missed you. [Another round of kisses as the dog sniffed the woman that was his owner but somehow
different. The age was clear on her face, past thirty than closer to 20, and her long blonde hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail, she wore a leather jacket over gray shirt and black jeans, and her combat boots were worn and comfortable. She looked calmer, too, as she rubbed her her dog behind his ears.]